How do you tame a slippery pick?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Denny Baer on September 10, 2010 at 10:34pm

Dean's comment made remember something I saw at acoustic kamp in June. A guy had taken a narrow (1/4") strip of velcro, wrapped it around his thumb, then glued a pick into position. Then just slid the velcro & pick on and of his thumb.

Permalink Reply by Jesse C. Greer on September 11, 2010 at 11:08am

There is a local group that meets once a week to play bluegrass and bluegrass gospel. A friend who sometimes plays in that group recently told me about a man in the group who had been playing acoustic guitar with this group for years. That man had a stroke or some type of health problem that rendered him unable to consistantly hold a flatpick. Someone in the group came up with a similar solution using velcro or double sided carpet tape to help the man hold his pick and continue playing his guitar. Isn't it great to hear stories like that where someone who loves music and loves to play is able to continue playing?

Permalink Reply by M. Schaefer on September 17, 2010 at 9:31am

wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy a thumbpick? I know I've seen a model made that looks like a 351 with a loop attached.

Permalink Reply by Denny Baer on September 17, 2010 at 9:48am

Thumb picks I've tried position the pick at 90 degrees to the thumb which may be fine for picking. I notice when I hold a pick it's at some other angle to the thumb. So I guess putting something around your thumb then attaching the pick at whatever angle is comfortable for you would work better.

Permalink Reply by Craig Denney on August 26, 2011 at 9:50pm

One thing I've recently discovered is that when the pick is slippery... that means my finger and thumb are too oily.  Washing my hands helps.  If I don't wash my hands, I take an alcohol swab... rub it between my thumb and finger, then wipe off the pick as well.  Works wonders!!! 

 

I've also used a 1/16" drill bit to drill some small holes in the pick.  Rubbing the pick with sandpaper works good.

 

I have the opposite problem as well.... wanting a pick that's MORE slippery.  I love Tortex picks because they feel great grip wise... but they drag too much on the strings.  And I don't think they sound as good as celluloid once you get to the 1.0 blue Tortex.  .88 green sounds good though.

Permalink Reply by Newbie Dean on August 28, 2011 at 7:30pm

I just found a great product.  I developed a trigger finger.  The hand specialist gave me a shot for it and told me to keep it wrapped at night when sleeping.  He gave me a 3M product called "coban" to wrap my finger.  I tried a piece on my index finger to grap my pick.  It worked GREAT.  It is NON-adhesive but sticks to itself.   Keeping It Fun, Dean

Permalink Reply by Hugh McCloskey on September 3, 2011 at 8:43pm

So that's what's going on with my hand - trigger finger?  For a number of weeks when I open my hand in the morning my fingers - mainly the middle one - resist opening and suddenly - pop!  It feels looser as the day goes on but is closely related to how long I practiced the day before.  I'll get some Coban and see if it helps both problems.

Permalink Reply by Newbie Dean on September 5, 2011 at 7:21am

The cortisone shot gave me instant relief. I need to do the nightly wrap for about 6 weeks to get it totally "healed". I tried to get the doc to find me "guitar players" hand for a transplant. He wouldn't buy into it. Keeping It Fun, Dean

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